Couples face many challenges in pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenthood. Marriage after baby is no joke. I bet you are familiar! After working with hundreds of parents, I've noted that a Simple Mind Shift can make all the difference for couples navigating conflict. When couples make the shift into realizing conflict is an opportunity for Meaning Making, relationships deepen and everyone feels more supported and solid. In this episode, I will share why conflict is actually an opportunity for you and your partner what Meaning Making is and why it's lovely steps towards productive cooperation and deepening connection Subscribe to my podcast & Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

Experienced Doulas get a keen window into the experiences, struggles, and triumphs that Moms, Partners, and Couples go through in the transition from pregnancy to birth and postpartum. In the 4th episode of my Birth Trauma Series, I'm thrilled to welcome Hehe Stuart, owner of Tranquility by Hehe- a maternity concierge service supporting Moms and Couples in their birthing and postpartum journey. Hehe is acutely aware of how couple dynamics affect the experience of pregnancy, postpartum, and long-term parenthood.  We discuss our expertise, experiences, and perspectives on what we notice in couples that bring peace to one another in the struggle of processing birth trauma, and what we notice gets in the way. This is a great episode for Moms, Pregnant Couples, Postpartum Couples AND Parents of older children to listen to. Follow to prepare for your experience to make sure you get the support you need (whether it's a smooth or rocky experience), to process what happened for you in the past, or to see how you can show up for parents. Subscribe to my podcast & Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

Husbands and partners also go through their own pain process and struggle after disappointing or scary birth experiences. When partners are struggling, that is a hardship on them and has ripple effects on the birthing Mom and family. No one should be experiencing their pain alone. How can men and partners get more support during this time? What are the barriers to getting help? This is a great episode for Husbands/Partners, Pregnant Couples, Postpartum Couples AND Parents of older children to listen to. This episode of the Traumatic Birth series includes: an overview of what I often see Husbands and Partners go through after difficult birth experiences an illuminating interview with Adam Angel, LCSW, as he shares his perspective and wisdom from working with men in the postpartum and early parenthood stage a concrete list of resources husbands and partners can seek out for support This is the third episode of a series on birth experiences. Follow to prepare for your experience to make sure you get the support you need (whether it's a smooth or rocky experience), to process what happened for you in the past, or to see how you can show up for parents. Subscribe to my podcast & Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

No Moms should feel alone in traumatic experiences- including birth experiences. Disappointing and Traumatic Birth Experiences are incredibly common and women often go through these experiences and process memories alone. But birth is a family matter and moms and families need support. This is a great episode for pregnant couples, postpartum couples AND parents of older children to listen to. In the second episode of this Birth series, I am sharing: what kinds of trauma or difficulties birthing moms may experience what approaches with moms can be harmful a concrete list of the type of support most birthing moms need This is the first episode of a series on birth experiences. Follow to prepare for your experience to make sure you get the support you need (whether it's a smooth or rocky experience), to process what happened for you in the past, or to see how you can show up for birthing moms. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel.  *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

Disappointing and Traumatic Birth Experiences are incredibly common and women often go through these experiences and process memories alone. But birth is a family matter and moms and families need support. In this episode, I am sharing my birth experience bringing my son into the world 1.5 years ago to: reduce stigma and shame around traumatic birth experiences share how reaching out for help was essential to healing encourage you to consider reaching out OR how to support your partner/family member/friend This is the first episode of a series on birth experiences. Follow to prepare for your experience to make sure you get the support you need (whether it's a smooth or rocky experience), to process what happened for you in the past, or to see how you can show up for birthing moms. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel.  *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

I see Moms, Couples & Families get distressed from their rigid stance on things- and they don't even realize they are doing it!  In this episode I will: share what the difference is between rigidity and flexibility why flexibility reduces stress (while still maintaining high expectations) give real life examples offer 3 tips on how to get into a more flexible mindset There's enough stress with babies, toddlers, and young children- we don't need any more stress by getting stuck in unyielding thought patterns.  Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel.  *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

I'm sharing my personal experiences of my 2.5 month long time in Greece with my family- and relating my personal experience to why Momming is so much easier with a solid community of people. I was literally in a village for part of our trip and experienced motherhood so differently there. In this episode I will: Share my personal struggles and joys on our travels Share why parenting is easier with a network of people, and what we know from research Share why Moms should stop pathologizing their struggles when most of the time its lack of support that makes things hard! Moms and parents should stop being so hard on themselves- parenting has become much to solitary of an experience in contemporary life. Support should be a built-in part of our parenting journey but it often isn't. It's important to find community where you can if possible.  Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel.  *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

Grandparent relationships bring opportunities for joy and also tension, as families navigate new roles, relationship dynamics, and boundaries. My work with parent-grandparent relationships has shown me how much relief and connection can come of working through the growing pains.  In this episode I will: Discuss the benefits of Grandparent relationships Share what conflicts most commonly arise with grandparents/in-laws after children come into the picture Answer 2 Listener Questions about their specific issues with Grandparents While addressing tensions can be uncomfortable, there are infinite benefits to you, your children, and your whole family when grandparent relationship dynamics improve. I'll be creating more episodes on grandparents in the future! Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel.  *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

One of the most common issues I see in parents is discomfort asking for help. We can learn along the way that it's emotionally safer to cope on our own, but how does that affect us and our relationships? Especially at a time in early parenthood when we need and deserve help more than ever! In this episode, I will: share how avoidance in asking for help harms relationships explore reasons why it may be hard to reach out for help share 5 suggestions to start increasing your comfort level around asking for help Increasing this comfort level will have profound effects on you and your couple/family dynamic.  Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel.  *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*    

Family vacations are more than scheduled activities and changing scenery.  What do you want you & your family  to emotionally experience on your adventures? Do you want to come home feeling more connected? In this episode, I will share: what opportunities vacations offer for families interesting research about family vacations 4 conversation starters that will help you and your partner/spouse cultivate more connection, joyfulness, and warmth Make intentional choices together so you can get the most out of these special times as a family.  Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel.  *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

In my practice I see a lot of resistance and discomfort around having natural mixed feelings towards partners, family members, and especially children. Shoving feelings below the surface ends up causing a lot of distress in Moms and in relationship dynamics.  In this episode I'll: normalize the experience of mixed feelings share specific examples to give a clear picture of how supressing feelings hurts relationships & will offer 3 concrete tips to start finding relief in yourself & relationships by accepting your mixed feelings At a time when you are already dealing with a huge adjustment & meeting so many demands, you don't need any more angst from rejecting your human experience.  Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel.  *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

We have hopes of how our experience of parenthood and family life will be when children come. It's incredibly painful to look back on this special time as lost opportunities for joyfulness and connection. Today I'm sharing: The most common regrets I hear from parents past the young child stage An example of one family's unfortunate experience 3 discussion points to get you and your partner on a more intentional path for your family.  Let the wisdom of parents on the other side of this stage open your eyes to what to watch out for.  Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel.  *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

The nursery design and what brand of baby carrier is part of the fun prepping for baby- but partners often forget that the biggest impact on them and their child post-birth is family dynamics. I'm going to share 8 discussions you and your partner should have before baby comes. Based on my years of professional experience, these discussion topics and logistical details are very helpful in preventing additional stress and helping to foster a more connected home environment when baby comes. You, your partner, and baby deserve peace. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel.  I'm developing resources for couples and families preparing for baby, or who are already in the journey, based on my wealth of experience. Stay tuned for updates on that! *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*    

Anxiety, depression, & other mood disorders are the most common complication of childbirth. If untreated, the symptoms can last years beyond birth.  Even though research has consistently indicated how much relationship satisfaction can lessen such symptoms significantly, not enough professionals are taking about how! In this episode, I will: Discuss how postpartum depression and anxiety can affect and be affected by the whole family Share an example of how the whole family system is affected by postpartum mood distress Offer 3 prompts to discuss with your partner, so you can both recognize some unhelpful patterns. Moms are not experiencing distress on an island- we are all affected by our relationships and our relationships affect us. Time to understand how this works to remove shame and see how postpartum distress is a family matter. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel. *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

Get an inside understanding of what family therapists and researchers know about healthy family dynamics. I'm Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Evie Mpras, and I'm here to help you and your family relationships in pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting young kids. In this episode, I'll: share what dynamics or qualities are hallmarks of resilient and bonded families give some specific examples of what these hallmarks look like offer 3 conversation starters with your family members to start loving discussions about your family dynamics We can't heal something that we aren't aware of- it's very helpful to take pride in our relationship strengths and identify growth areas that we can work on- for our sake's and our children's sakes.  Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel.  *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

Being hard on yourself and getting into shame spirals is an all-too-familiar state in Moms & parents. Not only is it harmful to us, but it's also harmful to our relationships. I'm Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Evie Mpras specializing in relationship health in early parenthood. In this episode I share: Why shame spirals are so common when we become parents How shame is an avoidance of your authentic feelings How shame spirals make it harder to show up for ourselves, our partners, and our kids. 4 actionable tips to start interrupting these shame spirals and connect with your loved ones Giving grace makes it easier to stay accountable to yourself and others. Let this episode help open up another way of relating that isn't so harsh. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel.  *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

Facing realities can spare us pain! Let's face that holding on to unrealistic expectations sets Moms & Couples up for profound disappointment and heartache in pregnancy, postpartum, and co-parenting young kids. This episode offers: a mindset shift back to reality so you can actually work better with what's possible in the stage of pregnancy, postpartum and parenting young kids. an account of what *may* actually realistic in survival mode 3 agreements you and your partner can commit to that will help ease tension and increase connection. Acknowledging what is actually possible can open up a world of connection- and you and your loved ones deserve this, especially during the tender period of growing your families. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel.  *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

Today I'm inviting you and your family members to face what often gets avoided: conflict.  I'm Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Evie Mpras specializing in relationship health in early parenthood. I'm going to share: Why we need to face conflict rather than avoid it when becoming parents How getting more comfortable with conflict can bring you closer with loved ones. 3 Tips on how to start shifting your perspective to disagreements so your relationships can benefit from more peace.  Marriage after baby usually brings more disagreements and conflict to the table. Your family's life will greatly benefit by learning how to navigate disagreements and discord. This leads to closer relationships! Make sure to sign up to my email list found on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my videos on YouTube Channel.  *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*  

There's a lot of advice out there. You need to know what research and clinical experience I bring to the table. I'm Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Evie Mpras and In this episode I get right to the point: What I specialize in The many research-based approaches I use How it all works together to benefit Moms, Couples, Children & Families No person or family can be fully understood and cared for using only one type of approach. My background in Maternal Mental Health, Family Systems, Parenting, Interpersonal Neurobiology, & Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) is an effective and intentional combination that addresses the core issues of family longings and functioning in early parenthood.  It's an honor to be part of your family's journey towards more connection and peace. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel.  *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*

Let's take an honest look at how the transition to parenthood is not an individual process- it's a family process. I'm Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Evie Mpras specializing in family functioning in early parenthood. In this episode I share: How the transition to parenthood can strain relationships- marriage after baby comes with stressors. How the whole family system deals with stressors! Why most resources for Moms don't address family relationships What provides the fastest relief for families Join me in this swing of the curtain so we can take an honest look at why Mom distress is not a solitary issue- it's a family issue. Sign up to my email list on my website for updates & free resources for your family and subscribe to my podcast videos on YouTube Channel.  *This Podcast is not an alternative for mental health assistance and/or counseling with a licensed professional. For any specific medical questions about your condition and/or concerns, please contact your healthcare provider. This Podcast should not be considered mental health advice, rather for the sole purpose of information and education.*